Republicans allow comic Stephen Colbert onstage to mock Trump

In bizarre costume, reminiscent of the Hollywood hit science fiction drama "Hunger Games," late night television host and comedian Stephen Colbert crashed the Republican National Convention stage in an effort to mock presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump. Colbert -- the host of "Late Show" -- went up to the central lectern and took the microphone on July 17 while final preparations were underway for the Republican National Convention in Cleveland. Dressed as Caesar Flickerman, a character from the “Hunger Games” movie franchise, Colbert sought to ridicule Trump on the latter's home turf.

“So it is my honor to hereby launch and begin the 2016 Republican Hungry for Power Games,” Colbert continued. He then slammed a novelty-size gavel for dramatic effect before staff members dragged him away from the podium. But Colbert got the last word, “Look, I know I’m not supposed to be up here, but let’s be honest, neither is Donald Trump.”

Audience members acknowledged Colbert with applause. Colbert -- in character as Caesar Flickerman -- criticized the Republican party last year as the number of presidential candidates was being winnowed. “This vicious battle for survival in a cutthroat arena reminds me of ‘The Hunger Games,’ in that hundreds of millions of dollars will be spent and in four years, there’s going to be another one,” he said last September.

In 2006, at the White House Correspondents' Dinner, Colbert was invited to give the traditional roast of the president. Instead, he delivered a highly partisan excoriation of President George W. Bush, who was sitting just a few feet away.